Washington Square Walkable Park

Urgent Update May 5th, 2026

This rendering of Option 2 was done for the 2025 Feasibility Study for a park for Washington Square. It's an initial concept of a passive park. Our neighborhood will have plenty of input on the final design when the park is approved by City Council

The strategy to secure funding for a walkable park in Washington Square changed April 29th. Funding for land purchase will now be presented as Unfunded One Time Needs for Consideration for an unused portion of the current '25/'26 budget. It will be discussed in a Work/Study session by City Council prior to the Council meeting on May 19th. To make a walkable park in Washington Square a reality, it is necessary to secure 5 votes out of 7 by the mayor and councilmembers in favor of funding land purchase for our park. View the document here.

The City is moving toward funding for Option 2 in the '25 Feasibility Study

We're asking resident to help with this last chance effort to get our park approved:

1. Send an email to the mayor and City Council Members either Monday evening May 4th or Tuesday May 5th before 4PM. In your subject line say Agenda Item #30 Washington Square Park. . We've learned that it's most effective to send emails to the councilmember's emails directly rather than through the generic comment address as they get so many emails on other city issues on that, ours won't stand out.

2. Attend the May 5th City Council meeting and make a public comment either in person or via Zoom or just come and support your neighbors. Instructions are in the agenda Here

3. Send individual emails following the template below to the mayor and all six councilmembers as soon as possible. The email addresses are below. If you write your own text, please include the points in bold in your emails. You can send emails multiple times before June 2nd..

More information on the urgency to get a park in Washington Square can be found here.

Here is a suggested template for you to customize with your name and address. Feel free to make it your own. Mention your family and what a walkable park would mean to you. If you choose to write your own, please mention the facts in bold as they are key points that the Council needs to hear.

Subject: Agenda Item #30 Washington Square Park (for 5-5) "A Park for Washington Square" later than 5-5.

Dear Santa Ana City Council, My name is [Your Name], and I live in Ward 5 in the Washington Square neighborhood.

I am writing with urgency regarding a recent development.

Washington Square is a vibrant, community-focused neighborhood with tree-lined
streets and strong daily resident connection, yet it lacks a dedicated park where people
of all ages can gather, children can play, and the community can thrive. As an
environmental justice area, a park is not just an amenity, it is a matter of equity,
public health, and quality of life.

Establishing a park here directly supports the City’s Parks Master Plan goal of 1.5 acres
per 1,000 residents. With over 2,000 residents, Washington Square remains
underserved, even when the 10th & Flower park under development is completed. This
is a clear opportunity to improve health outcomes, strengthen community connections,
and provide much-needed open space.

This project is also highly feasible:
• A willing property seller is in place
• The undeveloped land allows for a straightforward construction process
• No significant traffic or access concerns; entry is within the neighborhood
• Minimal infrastructure investment due to the park’s passive design

The property is now actively being marketed to developers, referencing California Senate Bill 9, which allows increased residential density, potentially up to four units per lot. This
significantly increases the risk of sale and development before the City can act.

I respectfully urge you to:
• Prioritize this property for acquisition
• Allocate funding in the upcoming study sessions per Option 2 of the Feasibility Study
• Act promptly to prevent loss to private development

Washington Square residents strongly support a neighborhood park and are deeply
concerned about potential high-density development on this site. This is a rare and
time-sensitive opportunity to secure a lasting public benefit by utilizing the only
undeveloped land suitable for a park in our neighborhood. I urge you to act quickly.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,

[Your Name] 

[Your Address] 

Washington Square Resident